Do All Large Magnitude Earthquakes Result in Great Amounts of Death and Destruction?
No.The destructive forces of an earthquake depends on many factors. Large earthquakes commonly occur in remote areas of the world, with no buildings or people, and are not destructive. In addition to magnitude, some of the factors that determine damage and deaths are: population densities, the density and types of building construction, local geologic conditions, distance from the epicenter, earthquake depth, how long the shaking continues, and the degree of earthquake preparedness in the region. 25. Can Earthquakes Be Prevented? There is no known way to prevent earthquakes, but it is possible to lessen the impact. The amount of devastation from an earthquake can be greatly diminished by building structures using earthquake resistant design, making the interiors of buildings safe from falling objects, and educating people about earthquake safety.
